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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

India or Maria?

38 replies

Snoopy90 · 27/06/2019 23:22

Which do you prefer? India would probably be shortened to Indie.

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Sophronia · 29/06/2019 08:49

Definitely Maria! Classic and beautiful.

Prettylittlelady · 28/06/2019 22:09

Defo India!
Although Maria is pretty sounding it feels a little dated to me. India NN Indy is adorable.

Juniperjoy · 28/06/2019 21:21

Why do people post on a message which is asking which name they prefer to only go and trash both names?!
That's not the point of OP message.

What does try hard actually mean?

Anyway like both but I'd say India personally and no you don't need have a connection to the country or tick every box mumsnet dictates.
Both lovely names, your daughter will be happy to be named either one. Ignore the judgy comments.

HoratioNightboy · 28/06/2019 21:21

didn't Princess Diana have an India as one of her bridesmaids?

Yes, India Hicks.That was how the name came into Britain's consciousness, as it was unheard of before that other than in society columns. It was a traditional name for the Hicks women, to commemorate the days of the Raj when they owned half of India. So yes, fairly imperialist!

MikeUniformMike · 28/06/2019 21:03

Maria.

Pemba · 28/06/2019 17:44

Maria is beautiful. Although overused in many countries, it is not here in the UK. Also like Marie.

Don't really like India much, feel it was a faddy name of a few years ago amongst trendy posh folk (didn't Princess Diana have an India as one of her bridesmaids?) Also agree with Horatio about possible imperialist overtones. And Indy/Indie is not attractive as a name, to me it describes a certain type of music, that's all.

AriadneesWeb · 28/06/2019 16:40

Maria. Or Mariah, nickname Riah?

PrincessLouis · 28/06/2019 16:32

Prefer Maria as classic and international. Agree with PPs India has a bit of a 90s fad vibe

Owlbert · 28/06/2019 15:58

Maria

Pinkfinkle · 28/06/2019 13:03

India

HoratioNightboy · 28/06/2019 12:15

I think India sound quite pretty however I'm not keen on the imperialist overtones it carries (showing age here!) Indie as the given name would bypass this.

Marie is OK.

mumdom · 28/06/2019 12:05

India is a pretty name but I do think you need to be linked to the country in some way.

Indira was the Indian PM. Pronounced Indra though.

Maria is a fabulous name and proves the Mumsnet rule that you can’t go wrong with a Jane Austen baby name (although she’s a baddie IIRC).

IdblowJonSnow · 28/06/2019 08:33

Neither but in Indira a name? That's quite pretty!

CatherineOfAragonsPrayerBook · 28/06/2019 07:14

By overdone I mean dull. Its very overused by Catholics and in Spanish countries. Although it's better than India. But that is just my opinion. It is classic.

Miriam, Marie or Martha are better imo.

AzraiL · 28/06/2019 06:54

Not a fan of Place names.

Not too fond of Maria either.

Would you consider something like Miriam?

diddlediddle · 28/06/2019 06:48

India is nicer and more interesting. Indie is cute.

Yogagirl123 · 28/06/2019 06:40

I like both names, OP, but I think out of the two, I would choose Maria.

KatherineJaneway · 28/06/2019 06:38

Maria.

Someone says Indie, I think Harrison Ford.

HeronLanyon · 28/06/2019 06:36

Immediate reaction to India (Apols India knight et al) was that it was very boho late 90s and likely even then to be outdated very quickly.
I like Maria a lot.

Peachbubble · 28/06/2019 06:15

India

Watersnail · 28/06/2019 05:49

Maria

UnderTheTree · 28/06/2019 04:16

I love Indie / India, I really liked Indigo when I pg with DD1 22 years ago Grin but DH vetoed it :(

Maria seems a bit dated.

Rachelhaydenberk1 · 28/06/2019 03:37

I've never heard of India as a name! I like Indie but for a boy. And I live in the states so it makes me think of Indianapolis or like the Indy 500 race 😂 but I do kinda like it as a boy name but not the full India.

Also in the states I feel that name would be very controversial. I dont think being named India would go over well. But maybe it's fine where you live. There are a few Indian names I like that I'm not sure I could pull off, let alone the name of the country!!

I think it would be a little less jolting to go with Indigo - nn Indie. Indra and Indrani are also legit names.

Maria bores me personally. Not a fan of Maria or Marie or even Mary. I dont think in this generation its overused though. I prefer Marion, Maren, Meridy or Meredith. Just a fresher spin I guess.

MrsDrSpencerReid · 28/06/2019 02:42

My DS is close friends with an India. Absolutely gorgeous little girl, smart and very sporty. She gets Indie as a nickname Smile

Expressedways · 28/06/2019 02:38

Very different names! I think India is a bit try hard and I just think Indy 500 (the nascar race) when I hear Indie. Maria is much better, it’s classic but you don’t hear it much at least in English speaking countries.